Rescued dog helps marathoner chase Six Star dream

Some finish lines are bigger than others.

For Michelle Hood, a dedicated marathoner, the ultimate finish line wasn’t just about completing the famous Tokyo Marathon — it was about the journey she took to get there, thanks to one very special dog.

Benton was one of many animals to go to West Memphis Animal Shelter after it had been discovered that there were far more pets living in a home in the area than their person could take care of.

Large-scale cases such as this can strain animal shelters’ efforts to reach or maintain no-kill, and it takes organizations working together to share the effort and to place those pets in homes. So Benton and nearly 30 other dogs and cats were welcomed at the Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Northwest Arkansas from the shelter. Benton was shy and unsure of the world, but Michelle saw something special in him.

“One look at him, and I had to adopt him,” she says. “I knew he needed to be loved.” Over time, Benton blossomed, learning what it meant to feel safe.

As Benton settled in, Michelle was chasing a dream of her own: completing the Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Journey, a series of six of the most prestigious marathons in the world. Only about 20,000 people globally have ever done it, and Michelle had just one race left: Tokyo. The problem? Getting in wasn’t easy. She’d been trying for years through lotteries, virtual races, and essays, but luck wasn’t on her side.

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That changed just one week after she adopted Benton. The Tokyo Marathon’s charity applications opened, and Michelle saw an opportunity. She applied to run for Peace Winds Japan, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing and rehoming pets, many of whom, like Benton, had come from heartbreaking situations. As part of her application, she wrote about Benton’s journey, his resilience, and the love they had found together. Her story struck a chord, and she was finally selected for the race.

On March 2, 2025, Michelle stood at the start line in Tokyo, running not just for herself but for every animal who deserves a second chance. And when she crossed that final finish line, she became one of only four people from Arkansas to complete all six marathons in the Abbott World Marathon Majors.

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“I owe all of this to my little buddy,” Michelle says.

Benton’s adoption had set off a chain reaction, not just bringing him into a loving home but inspiring Michelle to give back in a bigger way. She’s now an active volunteer and member of Best Friends, helping other dogs like Benton find their happy endings.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.